Where did all these hostas come from?

[Muddy fingernails]

It's 2007. More lawn has been dug up. Hostas are growing everywhere. All nurseries around the area now greet me with that special smile they have for the hopelessly addictied.
I am facing a special challenge this year: a crew of people is coming to paint my house and build a new kitchen porch. How do I protect the plants? Have any of you dear readers dealt with such a problem? Please don't tell me to dig up the plants.
I'll be posting some pix of unidentified hostas ( from our local garden club sale)
With hostaly greetings,
Antje is Muddy fingernails

[Muddy fingernails]

I must say, my house looks wonderful. I dug up four hostas from the north side of the house to prevent damage. They seem to be very happy in their pots under the willow. I almost lost 2 plants under the front window, a lovely two year old Wolverine and a Patriot. The dog, Hannah, made herself comfortable under the evergreen and squashed the hostas in the process. I dug up the remnant and replanted them in a Rottweiler-free zone of the garden. Hopefully, they will eventually regain their splendid form.
More later.
Antje is Muddy fingernails

[eastwood2007]

You have Rottweilers, too? I don't have too much trouble with them laying on things anymore, as I have learned where to and where not to plant things. They do pretty well about picking their way carefully thru the gardens, weaving in and out of the hostas.

Now, the new kittens on the other hand... Should name them "shredders."

I am glad you got your house finished nicely.

[Muddy fingernails]

Well, I only have one rottie. She is the sweetest thing but rather large. i should have paid more attention to her summer sleeping habits and not planted hostas next to "her place."
We'll figure it all out. I have two small dogs who do not bother the plants at all.
Regards,

Antje is Muddy fingernails

[hagranger]

Antje,
I didn't see this post before ... I would have recommended digging and moving your precious babies and then telling the contractor you wanted MINIMAL damage on your plants.
Photos, we need photos of the house and gardens
Helen

[Pieter]

a Rottweiler-free zone of the garden

It's darned near impossible for us to have a Rottie-free zone. While we do have certain parts of the yard cordoned off as a limited access zone, it is where the grass is and our bitch in particular LOVES to dine out on grass and dirt! Neka and her Buddy Ace have open access to our North sideyard where I keep 4 Hostas in elevated pots/containers: 'Patriot", 'Albo Marginata', 'Striptease' and a smallish 'Sum and Substance'. They all did quite well there until about 5-6 weeks ago.

The 'Patriot' was the first to fall victim to our black and tan 'slugs', by the time they were done ripping at it there must have been only 20 leaves left on it with at least 30 or more short-stemmed petioles. Next was the AB, but I pulled it from its location before it could get that bad. Then it was on to the 'Striptease', and 8-10 of its leaves have made their way through our Rotties' digestive systems, and now they're onto the S&S.

In addition to all that her ladyship took it upon herself to trim back all of the lily stems, as well as the Echinacea. I don't know what it is about these two. They're Rotties #9 and 10 for us and we have never encountered the kind of destruction this little bitch can cause all by herself. Ace of course has to help once he sees her having too much fun, but seldom does he initiate. On top of all the outdoor mischief she's also very good in chewing furniture, both the outdoor AND indoor variety. She has just turned a year and we're keeping our fingers crossed that this is just a passing phase. Meanwhile it's getting to be pretty expensive.....

[Ginger]

I'm sorry Pieter, I had to laugh reading your post because I have soooo been there!! When Copper was alive we always found plants dug up, holes in the yard, edges chewed, etc and usually blamed DOC He was the pup and we sort of expected that from a pup, but then as Doc got older it still continued, especially the digging! When Copper passed on, it stopped so we knew who the real culprit was,,,, Poor Doc, he just helped out and followed his sisters lead. I would rather have her back and digging though

Ginger

[Wheasie]

By all means, you should (1) dig, (2) pot, and (3) protect those little precious things.

[Pieter]

(3) protect those little precious things.

You talkin' 'bout the dawgs, or the vegetation.....

[Pieter]

My poor Striptease has now been moved into the Rottie-free zone. Neka and Ace have been eating Hosta salads

[eastwood2007]

We live in the woods, so at my house if there is a Rottie-free zone it also quickly becomes a "hosta-free" zone as well. It's a trade off....Rotties or... deer, possum, raccoons, voles, squirrels, rabbits...and on and on it goes!

[wishiwere]

With hearing all those 'rottie' stories, I'm hoping you all keep up to date on the current list of plants that are poisonous to animals! Whew! Mine (2 cockers) used to like to lay under the larger hoster, but thank heavens, never ate them! They did break a few branches while passing through them on occasion, but it was never intentional. TH!